The following early theories and ideas were influential to the initial understanding of group dynamics, prejudice, and social interactions. Some were fruitful in establishing parameters for sociology, anthropology, and political science. Some of these ideas have been advanced, refined, partially confirmed by experiment, and incorporated into more complex frameworks. Many others have been utterly refuted and debunked, but were important in the general discussion and ongoing process of scientific advancement.

1913: Discovered the "Ringelmann effect" (Social Loafing)Noticed tug ‘o war players only put in half as much effort when they were in a team of 8 than when they were on their own. When tasks are additive and each person’s contribution is difficult to judge, people will slack off.

American psychologist, sociologist and philosopher of Pragmatist school

“Generalized Other”The Social Nature of the SelfProposed that the human self is both a social phenomenon and a biological one. His fundamental insight into consciousness was that it arose out of role taking, of seeing things from the point of view of the other(s), as well as from one’s own point of view.Advanced concept of Symbolic Interactionism

Developed experiential workshops [early version of "sensitivity training"] to help people overcome religious and racial prejudices.

Lewin K. (1943). Defining the "Field at a Given Time." Psychological Review. 50: 292-310. Republished in Resolving Social Conflicts & Field Theory in Social Science, Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association, 1997.